Motor-propelled vehicle.



I.- SONNENBBRG.

MOTOR PROPELLED VEHICLE.

APPLIGATION'FILED APR. 30, 1914.

Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

INVENTOR 9HBBTSSHEET 1.

J. Smuwnfier WITNESSES ATTORNEY J. SONNENBERG. MOTOR PROPELLED VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED APRISO, 1914.

Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

a sums-sum: 2.

Jffionrwnbegg,

INVENTOR WITNESSES ATTO R NEY & m v

J. SONNENBEB-G. MOTOR PROPELLED VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED .APR.S0. 1914 Patented Feb. 23, 1915 R a O w m no u T E9 m m wr m H e g P w H I E H S 3 W 0 b Josnrnsoimnnnnne, or nuns, MINNESOTA.

MOTOB-PROPELLED VEHICLE.

To all whom it may concern: I 7

Be it known that I, JOSEPH SoNimNnEno, a citizen of the United States, residing at Alida, inthe county of Clearwater and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Motorv- Propelled Vehicle, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to lmprov'ements in motor propelled sleighs.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of motor pmpelled sleighs and to provide a simple, e cient, and comparatively inexpensive self-propelled vehicle, of strong and durable construction equipped with propelling mech-. anism adapted to operate efiectively on loose wet snow as well as on packed snow.

-A further object of the invention is to rious changes in the form, proportion, size and minor deta ls of construction, within 1 the scope of the claims, may be resorted to i one side without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In" the drawings-Figure 1 is a side elevation of a motor propelled sleigh constructed inIaccordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a'plan view of the same. Fig. 3' is a transverse sectional view on the line- 3--3 of Fig.2. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view on-the line 4-4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view onthe line 5.-5 of Fig. 2. Fig, 6 is a transverse sectional view of the limo- 6 of Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view on'the line 7-17 o'fFig. 1,

' illustrating the construction of the-propeh manner of con'nectin ling mechanism. Fig. 8.. is a'transverse sectional "cw of the propelling mechanism, taken on the line of Fig. 1. Fig. '9 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the therear runners to the is a detail view of one rear bolster. F

Specification of Letters Patent.

of the, motor propelled sleigh on Patented Feb. 23, 1e...

Application filed April 30.914. Serial No. 835,504.

of .the gears and the longitudinal lever the steering mechanism. .Fig. 11 is-a dctaii f sectional view on the line 11-11 of Fig... Fig. 12 is a longitudinal sectional vie -s through the'rear portion of the sleigh, ill trating the manner of mounting the brats;

Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional view on 31:

line 14-14 of Fig. 2.

Like numeralsof reference designate cor-I responding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention, 1 designates a main frame designed to support a body 2 of the automobile type, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings, but'any' other preferred form of body to adapt thefsleigh for various purposes may be employed. The sleigl; may be made of any desired size andit is equipped with front and rear runners 3 and 4, connected with front and rear bolsters 5 and 6- of the main or supporting:

frame of the sleigh; The front runners 3 are provided with centrally arranged vertically disposed pivots 7 mounted in suitable bearin openings 8 in the front bolster and adapt to emit the front runners to be turned on in fependent axes for guiding the sleigh. The. vertical pivots, Wh10l1 are suitably secured in the said bearing openings of the bolster, have attaching portions 9 which are bifurcated to straddle u wardly projecting centralportions 10 of t 0 front runners. he front runners 3, which are curved longitudinally and .which extend, in

advance and in rear of the bifurcated or forkedportions off the vertical pivots, may be constructed in any suitable manner and are preferably composed; of a woodenbody portion reinforced by an outer covering 11 of sheet steel or other suitablematerial. The rear runners are also designed to be constructed and protected in a similar manner, whereby a sleigh of great strength and durablity is provided.

-The front runners are turned on, their pivots'by steering mechanism comprising a vertical steering shaft '12 journaled in.suitable-bearings in the 'frontbolster and a sup-. porting bar 13, and provided atits' upper end-with asteering wheel 14 audjkeyed or otherwise secured at its lower end to a hori- ,zontal gear wheel 15. meshes with an mmmmmamuwmmw The gear wheel intermediate gear 16 ofshghtly less diameter than the gear 15, and in turn meshing with a still smaller gear or pin on 17. The supporting her 13, which is design d to beponstructed of suitable metal, is arranged in spaced relation with the lower face of the. bolster, and it is provided at its terminal portions with right angle bends which offset the body portion of the supparting. bar from the bolster. The terminals and 17 are mounted on stub of the supporting-bar are bolted or otherwise secured to the bolster, and the gears 16 shafts 18 and 19; which are journaled in suitable bearings of the front bolster and thesaid bar 13. The

- stantiall'y'the same set gears 15, 16 and 17 form a set or train of gearing for oscillating the longitudinally disposed lever 20, centrally connected to the gear or pinion l7, and bent at opposite sides of its center to arrange its terminal portions in the median plane of the sleighwhen the front runners are in alinement with the rear winners. The number and size of the gears i orconnecting the steering shaft with the his rear rods 21 or other suitable connedtions. The rods 2-1, which are oppositely 1nciined, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and4 of "the drawings, are provided at their termimale with eyes, which are linked into suitable eyes of the runners 3 and the lever 20. The steering mechanism. is adapted to cooperate with the propelling mechanism in the turning of the sleigh, as hereinafter fully deed. No claim isniade in the present lncation to the steering mechanism. lhe rearrunn'ers are provided with can'- trally arranged upwardly projecting portions 22 .having recesses 23 receiving reduced portions'24c of the rear bolster. The recesses 23 of the central portions of the rear runners are metal lined and the bolsters are provided at their side faces with wear lates, suitable-spaces being prov ded to afford the necessary play or rocking move ment of the rear runners. The reduced oitions 24fof the rear bolster are retaine in the recesses 23 by metallic straps 25, which securelthe rear runners to the rear bolster. The. metallic straps, which are approx inately U-shaped, are composcd of horizontal top portim s and front and rear 1nclined portions which bind the top and front 4 rear :aigos'or faces of the central ppo- .mng portioi'ss of the rear mini ns The "ear; runne s are. curved u iwardly in adof the central projecting portions 22,

and the front terminals ofthe rear runners are connected with the main frame by links 26 and with each other by a transverse rod 2?. -The links 26, which are provided with bifurcated or forkedg a'r ends 28 to straddle "the front terminals of the rear runners, are

pivoted to the same b by the transverse rod 27, which piercesthe forked rear terminals of the links and the front ends of the rear run-v ners, as clearly indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawing. The transverse rod forms a brace and firmly connects the rear runners with each other. The longitudinal links extendupwardly and forwardly from the rear run forded by the connection between the same and the rearbolster.

The rear runners carry longitudinally disposed propeller frames 31, pivotally connected at their front ends with the upwardly projecting portions 22 of the rear "runners by transverse shafts 32 and carrying at their rear portions transverse shafts or axles 33, on which are'mounted propelling wheels 34, yieldablymaintained' b springs 35' in engagement with the sur ace over which the sleighis traveling. The propeller frames or supports, which may be of any preferred construction, are composed of spaced side bars and are adapted to swing upwardly and downwardly on the front pivot shafts 32, and they are guided in their upward and downward movement by spaced arms 36, arranged in pairs and depending from the .rear portion of the main frame. The guid ing arms are located at a point intermediate of the ends of the rear raised portionof the main frame. and fit against the side bars of the propeller frames near the centers there- 'of, and they are suitably braced, as shown. The main frame is preferably provided at its rear portion with right angle bends, which'npwardly offset the rear portion of the main frame 'from the Horizontal plane of the body portion of the same to provide a lower space suflieient to. accommoda'te'the propelling mechanism. The *propelling wheels consist of central hub portions and tapered spokes 37, extending radially from the centralhub portions of the propelling wheels and adapted to operate effectively on loose .Wet snow, as well as on hard, packed surfaces. The springs 35, which may be of any preferred construction, preferably coneistv of upper'and lower s1des and a connectlng spring coil 38, the-sides or armsbeing' j Boltedkor otherwise secured to themain fram and to the rear portions of the side bars ofthe pivoted propeller frames. These springs are designed to be of sufiicient a to maintainthe propelling wheels m engagement with snow covered surfaces with the desared pressure to secure a osit vea'nd effective operation of the'prope ling mechanism. The propeller frames are ad- Iustable independently of each other by means of wire cables 39 and 40, or other suitable flexible connections, and are connetted at their rear ends with the propeller frames by approximately inverted U-shaped' yokes 41 having central eyes 42'for the attachment of the said cables, and provided at o posite sides with openings through whic .pass the rear shafts or axles of the propelling wheels. The sides of the yokes 2a 41' are straight and they are arranged between the side bars of the propeller frames andare fitted against the inner faces of the mid bars. The cables 39 and 40, which have their'rear portions located at gposite sides as of the sleigh, extend upwardly om the propeller frames to and pass over grooved guide pulleys 43,;and they are guided at their rear portions longitudinally of the main frame by pulleys 44 and 45. The cable 39, 36 which has its rear portion located at the left hand side of the sleigh, extends across the latter, the right hand side being guided by an intermediate pulley 46,'and the front portions of the cables 39 and ass over 85 grooved pulleys 47 and have their ront termina'ls attached to drums 48 of adjusting levels 49; The drums-48, which are-adapted to have the front terminal portions of the cables 39 and 40 partially wound on them, so are mounted on a transverse shaft 50 and the operating levers 49 are secured in their adjustment by pawls or dogs 51, connected with latch levers and arranged. to engage toothed se ents 52; When it is desired to 4'5; turnthe s eigh to the right, the propelling wheels at the right hand side of the sleigh are lifted, and the steering mechanism operated to turn the front runners and the rod, and when the sleigh is to be turned to the 50 left, the propelling wheels at the left hand side of the sleigh are raised and the steering mechanism correspondingly operated. By mounting the opposite pairs of propelling wheels independently of each other, at the '85 rear end of the sleigh, the latter is enabled to make a quick, sharp turn and may be easily and accurately guided by the steerin mechanism.

The sleigh is designed to be equipped with an internal combustion'engine or other suitable motor 53,1a's indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The engine 53 is connected with a longitudinal power shaft 54 which transmits motion throu h incase differential gearing 55 of EITI) p10 erred c on struction to a divided transverse shaft 56, extending across the sleigh and connected at the outer terminals of its sections with the pivoted shafts 32 by sprocket or other suitable gearing. .The sprocket gearing comprises substantially vertical sprocket chains 57 and upper and lower 'sprocket wheels 58 and 59, mounted respectively on thedivided transverse shaft 56 and thepivo'ted shafts 32, and meshing with thesprocket chains 57. Motion is transmitted from the pivoted shafts32 to the rear shafts oraxles 33 of the propelling wheels by longitudinally disposed sprocket gearing comprising sprocket chains 60 and front and rear sprocket wheels 61 and 62, mounted respectively on the front pivoted shafts and the rear shafts or axles. Any other suitable gearing may,'of course, be employed for transmitting motion from the pivoted shafts to the propelling wheels, and the sprocket wheels 59 and-61, whichare carried by the pivoted shafts, are located at the inner and outer sides of the-rear' runners. The sleigh is designed to be also equipped with the usual speed controlling means for enabling the propelling wheels to be rotated at different speeds and in either a forward or reverse direction. As this mechanism is of the usual construction customarily employed on automobiles, illustration thereof is deemed unnecessary.

The sleigh is equipped with a brake con- "sisting of a dog 63 mounted between the rear portions of a pair of oscillatory bars 64, which are pivoted at their front ends between spaced depending lugs 65 of a bracket 66. The front ends of the bars 64 are pierced by, a transverse pin 67, which is suitably secilred in the lugs 65 of the bracket 66. The bracket, is preferably secured beneath the central portion of the rear bolster of the sleigh, and the bars 64, which are spaced apart at their front ends, are provided near their rear ends with recesses 67 formed in the inner faces of the bars 64- and receiving th cg 63. The dog 63, which has a tapered loner portion, extends below the bars 64 and is provided at its upper end with an eye or opening in which is secured the rear end of a cable 68,0r other suitable flexible connection, extending upwardly from the said dog and guided by suitable pulleys and connected at its front end with a suitable operating lever 69, constructed similar to the levers 49 and equipped with a pawl or dog 70 for engaging atoothed= segment 71. The dog of the brake is adapted to be forced intoengagement with the snow by a pair of springs 72, constructed similar to the said springs 35 and secured to the main frame and totheupper faces of the bars 64.' vWhen it is desired to. stop the sleigh, the power may be shut off or' the propelling wheels may be lifted clear of the surface, and the brake released to cause the fee springs 72 to force the dog into en agement with the snow covered surface, ,his wi bring the sleigh to a quick stop. The brake, of course, may beequipped with one or more of the dogs to adapt it for vehicles of different kinds and sizes. N 0 claim is made in the .present application to the brake,

In practice, the gearing of the propelling mechanism will be housed within a suitable casing to prevent the snow from cldgging or otherwise interfering with the operation are adapted to clear apath for the propeL ling mechanism, and the blades 73 operate to throw the snow outwardlyfrom the rear runners.

What is claimedis:

1. A motor propelled vehicle including a main frame, rocking rear. runners, propeller frames pivotally mounted on and carried by and movable independently of the rear runners, a motor mounted on the main frame, propelling wheels mounted on the propeller frames, and gearing for connecting the motor with the propelling wheels.

32. A motor propelled vehicle including a main frame, rocking rear runners, propeller frames provided with spaced side bars located at opposite sides of the said runners and pivoted to and carried by and movable independently of the same, guiding arms arranged in pairs and depending from 'the main frame at the inner and outer sides of the runners and receiving and guiding the propeller frames, and means for'rotating the propeller wheels.

3. A motor propelled vehicle including a main frame, a rocking rear runner, a propeller frame pivotally mounted on and carried by the rear runner, said'propeller frame being also movable independently of the said runner, a motor mounted on the main frame, a propelling device mounted on the propeller frame, and gearing for connecting the motor with the propelling device.

4. A motor propelled vehicle including a main frame, runners, propeller frames piyotally mounted on the runners, propelling wheels carried by the propeller frames, and guides depending from the main frame and receiving and guiding the propeller frames.

5. A motor propelled vehicle including a main frame, runners, propeller frames pivotally mounted on the runners and movable upwardly and downwardly, propelling wheels carried by the propeller frames, and springs connected with the main frame and the propeller frames for urging the propelling wheels downwardly; v I a 6 A motor propelled vehicle including a main frame, runners, propeller .frames pivotally mounted on the runners and movable upwardly and downwardly, pro elling wheels carried by the prepeiier rames, guiding means forties prcpeiler frames carried by the main frame, springs connected with the main frame and the propeller frames for urging and operating means mounted on the main frame and "connected with the propeller .frames for raising the same.

7. A motor propelled vehicle including rocking runners, propeller frames having spaced side bars arranged at opposite sides of the runners, the side bars to the runners, propelling wheels mounted on the propeller frames, gearin connecting the propelling wheels with t e. front shafts, and power driven means carriedv by the vehicle for rotating the front shafts; I

8. A motor propelled vehicle including runners, propelling wheels connected with and carried by the runners and blades secured to and extending laterally from the runhers at a point in advance of the propelling wheels.

9. A motor ropelled vehicle including runners, prope ler frames pivotally connected with the runners and movable uptransverse shafts pivoting the same downwardly, I

wardly and downwardly, repelling wheels mounted on and carried y the propeller frames, gearing for rotating the propelling wheels, and snow plow blades secured to the inner and outer faces of the runners at a point in advance of the propeller frames and extending laterally beyond the same.

10. A motor propelled vehicle includingrunners, propeller frames provided with spaced. side bars, front shafts pivoting the side bars to the runners, rear shafts carried by the propeller frames, propelling wheels arranged in pairs and mounted on the rear shafts at the sides of the propelling frames, gearing connecting the said shafts, yoke arranged between the side bars of the propeller, frames and connected with the rear shafts, and operating means having flexible connections extending to and connected with the said yokes.

11. A motor propelled vehicle including a main frame, rear runners, propeller frames carried by the rear runners, propelling wheels mounted on the propeller frames and located at the rear portions of the runners, and longitudinally disposed links connecting the front ends of the rear runners with the main frame.

12-. A motor propelled vehicle including a main frame, rear runners, propeller frames carried by the rear runners, propelling wheels mounted on the propeller frames and located at the rear portions of the runners, inclined linksconnected at their upper ends with the mainframe, and. a transverse brace connecting the front ends of the rear run- 5 ners and pivoting the lower ends of the links to the same.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing- JOSEPH SONNENBERG.

- Witnesses:

J. E. BALL, C. O. NORDBY. 

